VAIL — The Vail Vitality Center is hosting a free community yoga practice, a Global Mala, on Saturday on the Solaris Plaza lawn in honor of International Peace Day. Vail Vitality Center yoga teachers Janet Casson and Nicole Mucciolo will lead participants through 108 sun salutations. This practice will be dedicated to peace for our community, our world and ourselves.

"The Global Mala is something I had the privilege of participating in for a handful of years when I lived in New York City," Casson said. "Since moving away, I have been on a search for a yoga event that might be equally as poignant. It is my hope with this Global Mala to offer an invigorating, inspiring and memorable experience for all who attend.

"We will be practicing at the same time as thousands of others around the world, all in honor of International Peace Day, which is Wednesday. We can't wait to practice peace with all of you."

A mala is a sacred garland, 108 prayer beads, a timeless tool for transformation, a global gathering for unifying consciousness and action through yoga. The Global Mala Yoga for Peace, founded by Shiva Rea in 2007 and now in partnership with Yoga Month and Yoga for Peace, is a seed of a worldwide experiment into the power of meditation in action.

The intention is to join thousands of planetary rituals that are raising consciousness on Fall Equinox and United Nations International Peace Day, bringing the global yoga community together from every continent, school and approach to form a "mala around the earth" through collective practices based upon the sacred cycle of 108.

"Numbers and repetition have been sacred to all ancient peoples, and 108 is incredibly meaningful in yogic history," Mucciolo said. "By repeating a rather simple yet profound series of postures, we as practitioners will dive into a space of moving meditation.

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"We might unearth physical sensations and emotional insights both exciting and uncomfortable. By continuing on the path to 108 rounds, we will begin to dismantle patterns that are blocking us from being our most happy and healthy. This is not designed to be painful or a punishment, so modifications will be encouraged. We as a community will come together with other yogis around the world to spark change in ourselves and the world around us."

Practitioners of all skill levels and interest are welcome to join in this endeavor. Yogis should dress in layers and bring a yoga mat, water and sunscreen for the practice. The Global Mala practice takes place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday on the Solaris Plaza lawn. There is no charge for this event.